Tokyo Racecourse

Tokyo Racecourse (東京競馬場) is a Japanese racecourse in Fuchū, Japan.

Built in 1932 and officially opened in 1933, Tokyo Racecourse is widely regarded as the "racecourse of racecourses" in Japanese horseracing. Located in Fuchū, western Tokyo, it is easily accessible via public transport: a footbridge connects the venue directly to Fuchūkeiba-seimommae Station, while another links it to JR East’s Fuchūhommachi Station. With a total spectator capacity of 223,000, including 13,750 seats, the racecourse serves as the premier venue for Japan’s most prestigious flat races, including the Japan Cup, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and the Yasuda Kinen, a key event in the Asian Mile Challenge.

Tokyo Racecourse was constructed in 1932 on land in Fuchū, western Tokyo, and opened the following year under the Japan Racing Association (JRA)’s predecessor.

Following World War II, the racecourse underwent several upgrades, it became the permanent home of the Tokyo Yushun (first run in 1932) and later hosted the inaugural Japan Cup in 1981.

A redevelopment project, launched in 2000 and completed in 2007, transformed the venue into a state-of-the-art racing and entertainment complex. Among its key additions were the Fuji View Stand, the new main grandstand, which offers views of Mount Fuji on clear days, and the Memorial 60 Stand, erected to commemorate 60 years of the Japan Racing Association. The project also introduced what was then the world’s largest video screen, (66 meters by 11 meters), a record that stood until Kauffman Stadium surpassed it in 2009.

The racecourse features three distinct tracks:

Historically, a 3,200-meter chute was used for the Tenno Sho (Autumn), but it was decommissioned after the race distance was shortened to 2,000 meters and is no longer in use.

Consistent with international standards, all races at Tokyo Racecourse employ a 5-meter gate run before official timing begins. This ensures accurate distance measurement from the moment horses pass the designated timing point.